Tilting ladle



May 26, 1936. 1.. A. CAMEROTA TILT ING LADLE Filed Feb. 21, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSES.-

May 26, 1936. CAMEROTA I, 2,042,037

"IZILTING LADLE Filed Feb. 21,1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m. &

INVENTOR: Louis 291 L'amzrola BY W TTORNEYS.

May26,1936. L. A. CAMEROTA 2 042,031

TILTING LADLE Filed Feb. 21, 1955 4 sheets-sheet s WITNESSES: I N V EN TOR:

B'Y Lauis fi Carma/rota,

WQMML y 1936. L. A. CAMEROTA 2,042,037

' TILTING LADLE WITNESSES: I N VEN TOR:

@r 5 Z M w I V- I BY M. l v Q I TTORNEYS.

Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TILTING LADLE Application February 21, 1935, Serial No. 7,563

10 Claims.

This invention relates totilting ladles and is particularly applicable to ladles of the type used to charge molds on a centrifugal casting machine.

Where a mold is chargedby-pouring molten iron therein from a tilting ladle, there is a tendency for slag or other impurities in the metal to rise to the top of the ladle, and in order to prevent such matter from being carried over into the mold, it has been customary to skim the surface of the metal by means of a hoe or the like, and thus to remove the impurities before the ladle is discharged by'tilting. Such a method ofskimming is both dangerous and disagreeable to the operator who must stand close to the top of theladle and exercise considerable skill under difiicult conditions.

It has been proposedto eliminate such dimculties by using ladles equipped with special instrumentalities for skimming the surface of the metal incident to its discharge, but so far as I am aware; such instrumentalities" are generally unsatisfactory because their continuous contact with the molten metalcauses' their rapid disintegration.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a skimmingdevicerfor a ladle which, though comparatively simple and inexpensive, is durable and efficient and avoids the disadvantages characteristic of the devices mentioned above. This end I accomplishby the provision of adevice which is normally maintained out of contact with the metal content of the ladle and-which isautomatically moved to a position at the mouth thereof to skim the surface of the metal as the ladle is tilted to discharge its content.

Other objects of the invention are to provide various means for adjusting the skimming device to suit different conditions, and'means-for controlling the movement of the skimming-blade in relation to the tilting movement of the ladle soasto insure a uniform or even flow of metalfrom the pouringlip-of the ladle.

Preferably also the device of this'invention is adapted for periodic cleaning. and this is accomplished by means of a pivotal connection between the skimming device'and ladle whichpermits the skimming blade to be readily swung to'a position clear of the top-of the ladle where it is accessible for easy cleaning.

Still other objects and advantages characterizing my present invention will become moreapparent from the description herei-n'after'set forth of one example or embodiment thereof; having referenceto the accompanying drawings. 0f the drawings:

Fig. I represents a side elevation of a pouring assembly, including a pair-of ladles equipped with a skimming device of my invention, adapted for use with a centrifugal casting machine.

Fig. II represents a plan view of one of the ladles.

Fig. III represents across section of the ladle, taken as indicated by the-lines IIIIII of Fig. II.

Fig. IV represents a side elevation of the ladle and the top portion of its sup-porting frame, showing the ladle moved to the maximum angle of tilt.

Fig. V represents a cross section of the ladle, showing the skimming device in the position which it occupies when the ladle is moved to its maximum angle of tilt; and,

Fig. VI represents aperspective view of the skimming blade.

With particular reference to Fig. I-.of the drawings, there is shown an'example'of-a pouring assembly of my invention adapted for use with a centrifugal casting machine of the type represented inU. S. Letters Patent No. 1,944,168, granted to-me on January 23, 1934. It comprises generally a ladle carriage I having upstanding frame membersZ, a pairof tilting ladles 3 disposed side by side and-pivotally mounted onthe frame members, and a pair of pouring spouts 4 -supported on the ladle carriage and adapted to convey the molten metal to the ends of parallel flasks 5. The ladle carriage l has wheels 6 engaging a track 1 whereby the carriage is movable in the direction of the axesof the pipe flasks 5. The pouring spouts t are removably supported on the ladle carriage I by brackets 8, 9. Obviously spouts of different sizes may be substituted for the ones shown totake-care of different size'pipe flasks.

As shown most clearly in Fig. II, the tilting ladles 3 have trunnions H! which are accommodated within U-shaped slots-ll at the top of the frame members 2, and it will be observed that the-axisof: the trunnions I llissubstantially coincident with the forward edge-of the pouring lips I2 of the ladleaso that the metal-discharged from the ladles flows evenly and without appreciable drop'to the pouringspoutsl; and thence to the pipe flasks 5. By-means ofsuch-anqarrangement, the ladies 3 may readily be removedifrom' the carriage for, the purpose-of repairor replacement. In the illustrated example of the invention a flexible cable I5 is employed for simultaneously tilting-the-pair of ladles-,,the cablehaving a hook shaped end [6 which engages-the-lcentral portion of a connecting shaft I! at theynear of the ladles; but it will' be understood that: any convenient means may be employed for moving a ladle about its pivotal axis.

The novel skimming device of this invention is comprehensively designated at 8, and it comprises a U-shaped arm or strap l9 having its ends pivoted on a shaft 20 and having an intermediate portion bridging the pair of ladles and carrying a skimming blade 2| adjacent to the mouth of each ladle. Each skimming blade 2| may convenient- 1y take the form of a flat plate as represented in Fig. VI, and each blade may be disposed substantially vertically through a slot 22 in a plate 23 carried by the strap I9 and held in position by means of wedges 24 which permit adjustment of the blade relative to the strap.- 9

When the tilting ladies are in their normal upright positions, the skimming device I8 is engaged by an adjustable stop 25 in the form of a slotted bar secured to the frame member 2 by bolts 26. The stop 25 is so adjusted as to maintain the bottom edge of each skimming blade 2| above the topmost level of metal in the ladle, while it rests in normal position, as shown in Fig. III. Adjustment of the stop 25 can readily be effected by loosening the bolts 26, sliding the bar in the direction of its long axis, and subsequently tightening the bolts. On the U-shaped strap |9 there is attached a cam piece 2' which is adapted to engage a cam 28 mounted on the frame member 2 adjacent to the end of a trunnion Ill. The engagement between the cam piece 21 and the cam 28 determines the position of the lower edges of the skimming blades 2| with respect to the flowing metal when the ladles discharge their contents.

The cam 28 has arcuate slots 3|] therein through which bolts 3| are inserted for adj ustably securing the cam to the frame member 2. In an obvious manner the operation of the cam may be varied by changing its adjustment. Behind the cam. 28 there is provided a wearing plate 32 which has a guiding extension 33 disposed inwardly of the cam piece 21 and serving to maintain the cam piece against lateral shifting so that its engagement with the cam 28 is insured. The cam 28 and wearing plate 32 are spaced outwardly of the frame member 2 by means of a U-shaped spacer 34. In order to provide a suitable bearing for the ladle trunnions In, the frame members 2 at the sides of the ladle carriage are preferably reinforce-d by a block 35, and adjacent to the block the trunnion I0 is provided with a collar 36. The trunnions l0 may be conveniently formed byattaching to the ladle beneath the pouring lip l2 a square shank 31, and turning the shank 3! at its ends to cylindrical shape.

Each cam piece 2! is conveniently formed with an elongated tail member 38 which serves to relieve the wear on the point 39 which engage-s the cam surface. Desirably also the point 39 is hardened so that undue wear is avoided as the point passes over-the relatively abrupt indentation in the contour of the cam surface as indicated at 40. Moreover, the tail member 38 assists in limiting lateral movement of the strap l9. When such movementoccurs it engages the wearing plate 32 and prevents the point 39 from moving off the cam surface. I

The operation of the skimming device of this invention is as follows:

When the ladles 3 are in their normal upright position, the skimming device I8 assumes the po sition represented in Figs. I and III, the strap I9 being in engagement with the stop 25 and the lower edge of each skimming blade 2| being spaced at the desired distance above the pouring lip I2. As the ladles are tilted about the trunnions 0, the weight of the strap I9 is transferred from the stop 25 to the cam 28, the point 39 of the cam piece riding along the curved surface of the cam. With continued rotation of each ladle 3, the point 39 of the cam piece 21 travels over the abrupt indentation 40 in the cam surface, and causes each skimming blade 2| to move downwardly toward the forward edge of the pouring lip l2, Whereas the skimming blades 2| are normally out of contact with the metal content of the ladles, as the metal commences to flow from the ladles 3 to the pouring spouts 4, the skimming blades 2| gradually move into the path of the flow and serve to skim the top surface of the metal. The maximum angle of tilt for the ladles is represented in Figs. IV and V. It will be observed that when the ladles are in the positions there shown, the skimming blades do not obstruct materially the flow of metal but merely function to skim the surface thereof. The various adjustments which are provided for the stop member 25 and the cam 28, as well as the adjustable mounting of the blades 2| on the strap |9, make it possible to regulate the action of the skimming device to conform to the particular conditions which are encountered.

When desired, the skimming device may be swung upwardly and rearwardly about the shaft 29* on which it is pivoted to the position represented in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. I, in which position the blades 2| are readily accessible for cleaning. As the blades are moved clear of the top of the ladles, there is no danger of matter knocked off the blades falling into the ladles.

It will be apparent that the device of this invention avoids the difficulties and inconveniences which have heretofore been experienced, where attempts have been made to skim the ladles by a manual operation, and it will also be apparent that the'desired movements for the skimming blade are accomplished entirely automatically and are controlled in such manner that the skimming blades are brought into contact with the metal only while it is being discharged from the ladle. This serves to prolong materially the life of the blades.

While I have described my invention with reference to a particular form of ladle carriage, showing an example of the practice of the invention as applied to a double flask casting machine, it will be apparent that numerous changes may be made in the form of the ladle, the skimming device, and the particular means employed for operating the skimming device and of accomplishing the adjustments which have been referred to, all without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a tlltable ladle of the character described, a skimming device positioned at the mouth of the ladle and having a cam piece for controlling its movement, and a cam engaging said cam piece and serving to move said skimming device from a position out of contact with the metal content of the ladle to a position where it skims the surface of the metal, said movement of the skimming device taking place as the ladle is tilted from upright to discharging position.

2. In combination with a tiltable ladle of th character described, a skimming device having a blade positioned-at the top of the ladle and a cam piece at the side thereof, a frame for supporting the ladle, and a cam adjustably mounted on said frame to engage said cam piece and serving to move said blade from a position out of contact with the metal content of the ladle to a position where it skims the surface of the metal as the ladle is tilted from normal to discharging position.

3. In combination, a support, a ladle tiltably mounted on said support, a skimming device positioned at the mouth of the ladle, and interengaging parts associated with said ladle support and skimming device respectively, said parts cooperating to maintain the skimming device out of contact with the metal content of the ladle while it rests in its normal position on said support and to cause a regulated movement of the skimming device towards the mouth of the ladle to skim the surface of the metal incident to the 'tilting of the ladle to discharge its content.

4. In combination, a support, a ladle tiltably mounted on said support and having a pouring lip substantially coincident with the axis about which the ladle is tilted, a skimming device positioned at the mouth of the ladle adjacent to the pouring lip, and interengaging parts associated with said ladle support and skimming device respectively, said parts cooperating to maintain the skimming device out of contact with the metal content of the ladle while it rests in its normal position on said support and to cause a regulated movement of the skimming device toward the mouth of the ladle to skim the surface of the metal incident to the tilting of the ladle to discharge its content.

5. In combination, a support, a ladle tiltably mounted on said support, a skimming device having a removable blade positioned at the mouth of the ladle, and interengaging parts on said ladle support and skimming device respectively, said parts cooperating to maintain said blade out of contact with the metal content of the ladle while it rests in its normal position on said support, and to cause a regulated movement of the blade towards the mouth of the ladle to skim the surface of the metal incident to the tilting of the ladle to discharge its content.

6. In combination, a support, a ladle tiltably mounted on said support, a skimming device pivoted on said ladle and having a blade extending across the mouth of the ladle, adjustable means on said support for determining the position of said blade when the ladle rests in its upright position, and cooperating parts on said ladle support and skimming device respectively and serving to move said blade into contact with the surface of the metal as an incident to the tilting of the ladle to discharge its content.

'7. In combination, a support, a ladle tiltably mounted on said support, a skimming device adapted to extend across the mouth of the ladle and pivotally mounted on said ladle whereby it may be swung to a position to one side of the top thereof, and interengaging parts on said ladle support and skimming device respectively, said parts cooperating to cause a movement of the skimming device towards the mouth of the ladle to skim the surface of the metal as an incident to the tilting of the ladle to discharge its content.

8. In combination, a support, a ladle tiltably mounted on said support; a skimming device having a blade extending across the mouth of the ladle and out of contact with the metal content thereof while the ladle rests in its normal position, said skimming device being pivoted whereby the blade may be swung to a position to one side of the ladle andat a substantial distance therefrom, and interengaging parts mounted on said ladle support and skimming device respectively and cooperating to move said blade into contact with the surface of the metal incident to the discharging of the ladle.

9. In combination, a support, a ladle tiltably mounted on said support; a skimming device pivoted on said ladle and having a blade positioned at the mouth of the ladle, an adjustable stop on said support for maintaining said blade out of contact with the metal content of the ladle while it rests in its upright position, and interengaging parts mounted on said ladle support and skimming device respectively and cooperating to move said blade towards the mouth of the ladle to skim the surface of the metal incident to the tilting of the ladle to discharge its content.

10. In combination, a support, a plurality of ladles tiltably mounted on said support, a skimming device bridging the mouths of said ladles and having skimming blades thereon, each positioned adjacent to the pouring lip of a ladle, means for simultaneously tilting said ladles, and interengaging parts associated with said ladle support and skimming device respectively, said parts cooperating to maintain said blades out of contact with the metal content of the ladles while they rest in upright position, and to cause a regulated movement of said blades toward said pouring lips to skim the surface of the metal as the ladles are tilted to discharge their contents.

LOUIS A. CAMEROTA. 

